Municipal Capacity and Environmental Service Delivery in Digotsion Town, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The basic environmental service delivery in the town such as potable water supply, solid waste management, green area management and development and others is crucial for the mere existence of towns or cities. However, the delivery of them is a daunting task seeking utmost municipal capacity for a given town globally to local levels. This study is hence assessed municipal capacity in delivering of basic environmental services of Digo Tsion Town and especially to the existing conditions of basic environmental service delivery; assessing the municipal capacity of the town in terms of institutional policy framework, technical, financial and material and identifying challenges encountered with inadequate environmental services delivery. In carrying out of the study, both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were employed and descriptive research design was applied. To go through with the unit of analysis and observation, probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used for household respondents and for officials, respectively. Questionnaires were filled by 162 household respondents, 4 different institutions were consulted and observations were also made on the spot to realize some aspects of environmental services delivery. The analysis of the collected data was made using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. Bar graph and tables were used to present the result of the analysis. The findings of the result revealed that owing to the unprecedented denizens and town sprawl drinking water supply seeks improved management system. The sanitation service is also curtailed due to lack of proper sanitation facilities including public toilets, materials and inadequate coordination capacities. When the management of solid waste is considered, it is almost out of the auspices of the municipality as there is neither technical support to realize integrated solid waste management nor should it be given to the third party and generally public participation is lacking. In regard to green area development and management, even if there is no popularity in greenery activities, the practice is made haphazardly by the communities. The municipal capacity in the delivery of aforementioned environmental services are leashed due to lack of coordinated and concerted efforts which are aggravated by lack of proper policy frameworks; lack of skilled human resources; inadequate budget; materials and facilities and above all lack attention and commitment of the municipal authorities to environmental service delivery tasks. To bring about sustainable town development, based on the study findings it is imperative to undertake remedial activities amidst the shortcomings in all issues including water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, green area development and management. To do so, in a nutshell capacity building in terms of policy issues and institutional framework; financial and human resource management; provision of materials and exercising good governance so as to benefit from public participation is recommended.

Keywords: Urban Sprawl, Municipal environmental Services, Green areas, Municipal Capacity, Ethiopia